Steam-engine.



PATENTED DEC. 18', 1906.

v W. LOEFFLER.

STEAM ENGINE. AfPLIOATION FILED FEB. 6, 1905.

4 Exams-sum 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS co wnsmuawu, o. c

No- 838,631. PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

W. LOEFPLER. I

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 313. 6. 1905.

4 fiHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

W. LOEFPLER.

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED r1113. 6. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE Nonms PETERS co-, vmsmnarbflr, 11%.

PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

W. LOEPFLEB.

STEAM ENGINE:

APPLICATION FILED FEB. e. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEAM-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application filed February 6,1905. Serial No. 244.284;-

T0 all 107mm, 112% may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LOEFFLER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Sheboygan, in the county of Sheboygan and State ofWVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Em gines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention consists in certain peculiari ties of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter particularly set forth with referenceto the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed, its object beingto provide simple, economical, and eflicient antileak steam-engines ofthe rotary type, each organized with especial regard to provision forready compensation for wear therein and to automatic alinement of itscylinder and piston.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side elevation of a rotarysteam-engine in accordance with my invention, partly broken away Fig. 2,a sectional view of the engine, the piston being in elevation and partlybroken away Fig. 3, a transverse section of the engine Fig. 4, a planview of the engine, partly in horizontal section and Fig. 5, anelevation of a fragment of the engine, partly in section.

Referring by letters to the drawings, Aindicates the shell, and B C theheads, of the engine-cylinder. The shell is provided with diametricallyopposite trunnions b, that are preferably loose in roller-sleeves 0,supported on a frame D between posts (1 of same, and bolted to theseposts are right-angle caps e, that inclose the trunnions androller-sleeves thereon. The space between each pair of posts (Z issufficient to permit shift or skew adjustment of the correspondingtrunnion, and a set-screwf is arranged in set-nut connection with a cap6 opposite one of the trunnions to resist thrust of the engine-cylinder.

The frame D is bolted on pillars E in connection with a base F, and thisbase is provided with a vertical arm G, having a hollow head in whichone end of a live-steam pipe H is fitted.

The cylinder-shell A is provided with a steam-inlet boss 9 opposite anoutlet-boss h of the hollow head of the arm G, and a flexible pipe I hassteam-tight stuffing-box connection with said bosses. In like connectionwith the cylinder-shell and a duct t of the base F is another flexiblepipe J, and the bore of the gland of each stuffing-box is outwardlyflaring to facilitate yield of the corresponding flexible pipe toautomatic adjustments of the cylinder.

The inlet-port j of the cylinder-shell A communicates with asegmentallead k in the bore of said shell of said cylinder, andextending at a right angle to the port is a channel m, that registerswith a radial channel a in the cylinder-head C, this head being boltedsteam-tight to the aforesaid shell and provided with an inner annularrecess p, open to said radial channel and opposite a similar recess p inthe other cylinder-head. Another radial channel n leads from the recessin the cylinderhead C, and a drain-cock g is fitted in the latter"channel. A pin-valve K in screw-thread connection with the cylinderheadC serves to regulate the flow of steam from the channel m of thecylinder-shell A into the channel a of said head.

The other cylinder-head B is provided with a packing-ring 1" and hassteam-tight slip fit in the cylinder-shell A, but is held againstturning by keyins s engaging registering notches in it ant said shell. Aringnut L has engagement with a screw-tap ed portion of the bore of thecylinder-shel A against the cylinder-head B, and another ring-nut M isrun on the screw-threaded outer end of a hub of said head. By turning upon the nut M when the same is against the cylinder-shell A thecylinder-head B is drawn tight against the inner nut. In practice afterthe cylinder-head B is drawn tight against the inner nut L the outer nutM is run back on the hub of said cylinder-head, and an aperture of theouter nut is brought into reglster with one of a series of indentationst in said inner nut. The registering aperture and indentation are nowengaged by a pin N, and thus the two nuts are locked to turn togetherfor the purpose of adjusting the cylinderhead B to take up wear of bothheads and the interposed piston hereinafter specified. A flat sping u isshown arranged in connection with the outer nut M and the spring N tohold said pin against displacement. Fine adjustment of the pin-connectednuts is had by means of a screw 0, that engages a tapped lug v of'theouter nut and is guided in a bracket w, fast on the cylindershe1l, therebeing loose play of the screw in the bracket to compensate for therotary movement of said nuts necessary to the adjustment of the movablecylinder-head.

The piston is a circular device eccentric in the cylinder, and it may befast on a shaft or provided with trunnions P, said shaft or trunnionsbeing rotary in steam-tight stuffing-boxes, with which thecylinder-heads are provided. The shaft or trunnions of the piston alsoturn in boxes Q, that of themselves are provided. with trunnions at atright angles to those of the cylinder-shell. The trunnions :1: arechucked by centering-screws R, having set-nut adjustment in brackets S,and these brackets are bolted to the engine-frame. The piston being inthe described adjustable connection with the engine-frame, ac :uratesetting up of the engine is facilitated.

The piston comprises a block T, having right-angle notches, segmentalblocks U, adjustably held in said notches of the former block bycountersunk screws V and sliding gates X in spaces between blocks. Thereis tongueand-groove connection of the piston-blocks, and the countersunkscrew-apertures in the blocks U are of such area in cross-section aswill permit of the adj ustment of said blocks to compensate for wearoccasioned by reciprocation of the gates. Each of the gates X .isprovided with transverse apertures, and a spiral spring y is containedin each aperture under tension between packing-strips 2 in recesses ofthe gate.

Arranged in the spaces between the blocks T U, back of the gates X, arebars Y against spiral springs I), set in recesses in said gates, andantifriction-rollers Z are loose on round ed ends of the bars in theannular recesses of the cylinder-heads. Hence it will be understood thatcompensation is had for wear on the outer ends of the sliding gates thatare kept in contact with the bore of the cylinder by steam-pressure andexpansive force of the springs b, the live steam from the annularrecess 1) in the fixed cylinder-head having passage through the piston,back of the bars Y, into the corresponding recess p of the adjustablecylinder-head. Slide-blocks may be substituted for the rollers.

A belt-pulley P is herein shown in connection with one of the trunnionsP of the piston, said trunnions and the piston-block T being in onepiece; but, as before stated, a shaft may be substituted for thetrunnions.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the cylinder is hung inconnection with the engine-frame to automatically aline itself at rightangles to the axis of the piston. Hence wear of the piston-shaft ortrunnions in the bearings for same will not result in any binding in thecylinder of the engine, and the live-steam and exhaust-steam. pipesbeing yielding in connection with said cylinder they are not strained bythe same in its automatic adjustment. It will also be understood thatthe live steam entering the cylinder of the engine pushes against thepistongates to rotate the piston, and the disposition of the gates andthe cylinder-ports is such that each of said gates passes theexhaustport before the gate ahead passes the inletport, thus preventingescape of steam from said. cylinder until it has done its work on theaforesaid gates.

Having thus desc. ibed my invention, What .I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rotary steam-engine provided with bearings capable of rotary andskew movement, and the cylinder of the engine supported in said bearingsto at all times automatically aline itself at right angles to the axisof the piston rotative therein.

2. A rotary steam-engine comprising a cylinder having the shell thereofprovided with trunnions in rolling as well as rotary connection withtheir support to provide for automatic alinement of the cylinder atright angles to the axis of the piston rotative therein.

3. A rotary steam-engine comprising a cylinder having the shell thereofprovided with trunnions, roller-sleeves on the trunnions in contact withthe engine-fame, and posts between which the roller-incased trunnionshave their play.

4. A rotary steam-engine comprising a cylinder automatically adjustableto aline itself right angles to the axis of a piston rotative therein,and means for resisting thrust of the cylinder axially of the same.

5. A rotary stean1engine having a cylinder supported to permit automaticrotary and skew adjustment of the same, a rotative piston in. thecylinder, and fixed bearings for the piston-shaft or trunnions, thepiston being thus held in normal position at approximately right anglesto the bearings for the,

cylinder that is self-adjustable to at all times aline itself at rightangles to said. piston.

6. A rotary steam-engine having the rotative piston thereof mounted inadjustable bearings, and the cylinder having support that permits of itsautomatic rotary and skew adjustment to at all times aline at rightangles to the axis of said piston.

7. A rotary steam-engine having the cylinder tl'iereof provided with anadjustable head, and a nut arranged in said cylinder to hold the head inadjusted position.

8. A rotary steam-engine having the cylinder thereof provided with anadjustable head, a nut arranged to hold the head. in adjusted position,and. another nut on a hub of said head in opposition to the adjacent endof the cylinder.

9. A rotary steam-engine having the cylinder thereof provided with anadjustable head, key-pins engaging the head and cylinder to hold saidhead against rotary movement, and a nut arranged to hold. the aforesaidhead in adjusted position.

10. A rotary steam-engine having the cylinder thereof provided with anadjustable .being guided in the cylinder-head recesses.

head, a nut arranged to hold the head in adjusted position, another nuton a hub of said head in opposition to the adjacent end of the cylinder,means for locking the two nuts together, and adjusting mechanism inconnection with the outer nut.

11. A rotary steam-engine having the cylind er thereof provided with anadjustable head, a nut arranged to hold the head in adjusted position,another nut on a hub of said head in opposition to the adjacent end ofthe cylinder, means for locking the two nuts together, a tapped lug onthe outer nut, a screw engaging the lug, and a support for the screw inconnection with said cylinder.

12. A rotary steam-engine having a circular piston comprising a mainblock provided with notches, other blocks adjustable in the notches ofthe main one, and sliding gates in spaces between the blocks.

13. A rotary steam-engine havin the cylinder-heads thereof provided withinner annular recesses one of which has communica tion with a live-steaminlet of the engine, a circular piston in the cylinder provided withsliding gates, and movable cross-bars in said piston back of the gates,the ends of the bars 14. A rotary steam-engine having the cylinder-headsthereof provided with inner annular recesses one of which hascommunication with a live-steam inlet of the engine, a circular pistoneccentric in the cylinder and having sliding gates thereof in radialspaces crossing the cylinder-head recesses, and bars that are guided attheir ends in the aforesaid recesses and also engage the radial spacesof the piston back of the gates.

15. A rotary steam-engine having the cyl inder-heads thereof providedwith inner annular recesses one of which has communication with alive-steam inlet ofthe engine, a circular piston eccentric in thecylinder and having sliding gates thereof in radial spaces crossing thecylinder-head recesses, bars crossing the radial spaces of the pistonand guided at their ends in the aforesaid recesses, and springs set insaid gates under tension against the bars.

16. A rotary steam-engine having a circular piston comprising radialsliding gates provided with transverse apertures countersunk at theirends, packing in the countersinks of the apertures opposed toguide-surfaces for said gates, and spiral springs in said aperturesunder tension against said packing.

17. A rotary steam-engine comprising a circular piston having adjustablebearings for its shaft or trunnions, a cylinder inclosing the pistoneccentric therewith and automatically adjustable to aline itself atright angles to the axis of said piston, yielding steam inlet andexhaust pipes in connection with the cylinder, slide-gates constitutingelements of the aforesaid piston, and means for compensating for wear onthe contact-surfaces of the piston.

18. A rotary steam-engine comprising a circular piston having exteriorbearings for its shaft or trunnions, a cylinder inclosing the pistoneccentric therewith and self-adjustable to always aline at right anglesto the axis of the piston, yielding steam inlet and exhaust pipes inconnection with the cylinder, slide-gates constituting elements of theaforesaid piston, and means for compensating for wear oncontact-surfaces of the piston.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, atSheboygan, in the county of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin, in thepresence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LOEFFLER.

Vitnesses:

F. A. DENISON, G. SIEBELINK.

